The coastal town of Brunsbüttel in northern Germany has celebrated its 13th Wattoluempiade - its annual Mud Olympics.

Image copyrightAFPImage copyrightAFPImage copyrightAFP

Inaugurated in 2004, the event sees hundreds of competitors from 40 teams from Germany and neighbouring countries compete in sports on the mud flats at the mouth of the river Elbe, where it enters the North Sea.

Image copyrightReuters

The annual event, held over the weekend, included football, volleyball and handball tournaments, with players getting caked in mud from head to toe.

Image copyrightAFPImage copyrightAFP

Although what these guys below are up to is anyone's guess.

Image copyrightReuters

There is also sledge racing, with competitors using sledges that are specially designed for transporting objects over the mud flats of the German North Sea coast.

Image copyrightReutersImage copyrightEPA

On Saturday, there was the lighting of the Mud Olympic Flame to open the games.

Image copyrightWattoluempia

Wattoluempiade is also well-covered by media, with a reported 400 camera crews and media representatives covering the event, including sports photographers producing striking images.